Do I Need to Call the Police to the Scene of an Accident in Alabama?

The
average driver is involved in 3 to 4 accidents throughout their lifetime.
Chances are, by the time you turn 30, you will probably have been in at least
one auto accident. Vehicle accidents are unsettling for everyone involved. Even
minor accidents can shake you up and get your heart racing as you try to
resolve the situation.

One
of the common questions those involved in an accident often ask is, “do I need
to call the police?” In Alabama, you are required to call the police to the
scene of an accident if the accident results in a personal injury, fatality, or
property damage exceeding $250. This is what the law says, and although you may
not be required to call the police for every motor vehicle accident, it is
usually a good idea to do so.

There
are several reasons why you should call the police to the scene of an accident
in Alabama, here are 3 of the most important:

Injuries are Not
always Known Right Away

One
reason it is generally best to contact the police after a motor vehicle
accident is that, although it might appear that nobody was hurt, some injuries
are not felt right away after an accident. This is often do to the adrenaline
rushing through people that were involved in a collision. Just like an athlete
who continues playing in a game after getting hurt, people involved in an
accident may not feel their injuries until several hours later. By contacting
the police, you will ensure that you are following the law in the event that someone
ends up with a personal injury.

The Police Provide
Third-Party Documentation

Whenever
you are involved in an accident with someone you don’t know, you never know how
they will end up handling the situation. For example, everyone may be friendly
and polite to each other at the time of the accident, but later on, people
might change their stories. By getting a police report, you have third-party
verification of the events that occurred which resulted in the accident. This
helps protect everyone involved, and if you do end up being hurt, the police
report can be used as one of the pieces of evidence if you decide to pursue an
injury claim.

A Police Report
Makes It Easier to Prove Fault

If
you are involved in an auto accident in Alabama, you will need to prove that
the other party was 100% at-fault in order to obtain compensation for your
injuries. This is because of Alabama’s “contributory negligence” legal
doctrine. Under contributory negligence, if an injured party is found to be
even 1% liable for the underlying accident, they can be barred from recovering
damages. This is why a police report is critical with these types of cases. You
will need this and other forms of evidence to prove your case.

What Else should I
Do at the Scene of a Car Accident in Alabama?

In
addition to contacting the police, there are several other steps you should
take immediately after an auto accident:

Call 911: As mentioned
earlier, many injuries are not immediately apparent after a vehicle collision.
Even with a minor collision, it is best to have everyone checked out to make
sure they are all okay.

Document Everything: It is helpful to
have a police report, but it is also a good idea to have your own documentation
as well. Take multiple photographs of the scene from as many angles as possible
to show exactly what happened. And if you happen to have a dashboard camera,
make sure to capture the video footage of the incident. Finally, whenever it is
convenient, write down in as much detail as possible what happened. After the
police report is filed, obtain a copy and cross reference it with your own
report to make sure any mistakes on the police report can be corrected.

Report the
Accident to your Insurer: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
after the accident to report what happened. Do not admit any fault to your insurer or anyone else, leave that
to the experts to sort out. Just give them the facts about the incident.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you or any of your loved ones have any type of injury resulting from the accident, it is important to speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer. A seasoned attorney can thoroughly assess your case and advise you of your legal rights and options. Alabama has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, so the sooner you speak with an attorney, the better your chances of recovering full and fair compensation.

The Alsobrook Law Firm is located in Opelika, AL and serves clients in and around Opelika, Loachapoka, Auburn, Salem, Waverly, Cusseta, Smiths, Barbour County, Bullock County, Calhoun County, Chambers County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Coosa County, Dale County, Elmore County, Henry County, Lee County, Macon County, Montgomery County, Pike County, Randolph County, Russell County, Talladega County and Tallapoosa County.

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